An Equal capacity in the subjects of Great Britain for civil employment the best security to the government and the Protestant religion ..

speciAL
coLLecxrioNS

tDOUQlAS
LibKARy

queeN's uNiveRSiiy

AT kiNQSX:ON

kiNQSTON ONTARIO CANADA

tl

L

A'
kl

Int

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AN. ' ilV>^

Equal Capacity

In the Subjcfls of Great Britain for Ci-
vil Employmenr, the beft Security to the

GOVERNMENT,

AND THE

Proteftant Religion.

SHEWING,

f. It adds to the Power of the Crown.

n. It fecures the Eftablifhed Church.

ni. It would reconcile and bring in man/ of tfe
the Dijfcnters. And^

IV". The A6ts made to the contrary, hare never
beeen the Produce of Mature Deliberation*
but of Party Zeal.

Humbly OfFcr'd to the Confideration of the
Moft Reverend, and Right Reverend Fathers in
God, Hi« Grace the Lord Archbilhop of Tork
and the Lords Bilhops of Bath and Wells Rol
thefier^ Hereford^ St. David, Brifinl, and Che/'er. '

loidon : Printed fop A Bell, at the Crofs-Keys and
Bible in Cottihill. 17 17. . [Price 6 d.l

w

I

C3>

A N

Equal Capacity^

I N T H E

Subjeds of Great Britain^ &c.

My LorJs,

HE mofl fincere Regard to your
high Charaders and Stations,
would have utterly difcoun-
tenanced fuch a Prefuinption
as this, had not a Publick
Writer, very lately, Prejudged
the Succefs of an Affair, of the utraoft
Confequence, that he fuppofes might come
into Parliament this Sefl^on, by befpsaking^
and, in a manner, Fromifing^ the Weight of
your Lordfhip's great Aathority, on one
fide of the Queftion.

Your Lordfhip's cannot but have obferved
with Concern, that of late Years feme Zea-
lots have Started up in this Kingdom, who,
under Pretences and Names of a Religiou.s
Import, have grievouily di(turb?d the Peace
of Society, and Neighbourhood :, and that
the very Term Churchy which aKvays deno-
ted fomewhat Sacred ^ and commanded Awe
and Reverence, has been wantonly as well
A wickedly.

( 4 ) '

wickedly, made the Sport of faclio.n, the
Political Tool of a Party, and an Inftru-
jnent of Mifchief : Inroii)uch that thofe Re-
lations fo neceilary to the Publick Quiet, as
that of aVSubjed, and a Neighbour, have
been almoft entirely deflroyed. Truie Reli-
gion is- left out of Difpute, and wd are ftill
at War about Names.

While your Lordfhip'g lament tbefe un-
happy Divilion^, the ConfequenCes too,
fiiuft have come under your Notice , they
have made their way into fome Bran-
ches of the Leg^ifl iture, and brought, in foroc
Meafure, into Pradice, thofe pernicious Prin-
.ciples fo much cuhivated in the Times of
Anarchy, of Foundbig Dominion in Grace*
The Subjeft has not been confidered in his
Civil Relation, and as a Member of the Com-
munity ♦, but as he flood afFefted towards
tliat Parry, which held the Rains, and there-
fore has had the Capacities of difcharging
{lis Duty to the Publick, enlarged or dimi-
hilhed accordingly. Hence fome Acls have
pailed, under a Notion of Securing the Church,
which difqualify a very great part of the
Kingdom, from ferving their Country, or fo
ifiuch as fakeing up Arms in their Defence
again-ft an Invadeto

~ Thefe Proceedings have lengthened out
CoiitroverQes both within and without doors ^
2nfl as they may, perhaps, come before that
l^egiflartre again; for a Review, in whicl^
i'dur Lordlhjp's have fo cqniiderable a ihare \

( 5)

and, with the utmoft DefFerence, and a inoft"
humble Submifiion to your Lordlliip's great
Knowledge, and Experience in fuch Affairs,
it is defired that your Lord(hip*s would
vouchfafe to admit under your wife Confi-
deration fome Reafons, for putting all his
Majefty*s Subjeds into equal Capacities of
fcrving their King and their Country ^ pre-
fuming that they may have their due weight
whenever thofe Matters may come before
your Lordfhip's again in Parliament.

But that thefe may be prefcnted to your
Lordfhip's in the moft advantageous manner,
it is humbly begged Leave to obferve, that
as this Controverfy has been hitherto mana-
ged, viz. Whether the Diflentcrs have an
equal Right with the Eftablifh'd Church to
Places of Profit ^ has been upon a wrong
Foot, becaufe, i. This confiders not the Ser-
vice which the Publick has Occafion for,
but the Reward of that Service-, and fo raifcs
a neediefs and an invidious Emulation, ftirs
up ill Blood, and continually adds Fuel to
Party Striffs and VVranglings. 2. Becaufe
the Natural Rights, in many Circumftanccs,
of a particular Member, is much more diffi-
cult to determine, than the general Good of
a Collective Community. And 3. Becaufe
the good of every Community, neceflarily
implys the Security of particular Rights.
And therefore, with Submifiion to your
Lordfhip's, the Qiieftion in this Cafe, is not
whether all Subjecfs have -an equal natural

Right

(6)

Right to the Profits or Advantages of Serving
the Fiiblkk ^ but, whether it is any Addition
to the Piibltck Authority^ or Security^ to have
all its Members in an equal Capacity to do
the Duties of that Relation,

But previous to determine in this Cafe, it
may not be amifs to explain our Concep-
tions of Civil-MemberJJjip^ or fettle fuch a
Diftindion, as it may be underftood, who
are meant to be Members of a Civil Commu-
nity ^ or, in a proper Sence, the Subjedsofa
Legal Conftitution, and who are not allowed
to be fuch, tho' living in the fame Neigh-
bourhood or Country.

Thcfe are, to all Intents and Purpofcs, to
be deemed Members, or Subjeds, who con-
form to all Laws in being, and are ready to
comply with all Civil Tefls of Fidelity,
which the Colledive, or Supream Power,
may judge necelTary to enjoin at any Time,
upon all Exigences of State, fuch as Oaths of
Allegiance^ 6cc. But thofe are not fo who
will not obey fuch Laws, and comply with
fuch Tefls, or who maintain fuch Principles
as are evafive of all fuch Obligations, as thofe
of the Ro'fjan Church.

In this View therefore all Proteftants in
Great-Britain, arc, ftridiy Speaking, Members
of, and Subjeds to the Conftitution, or Le-
gtll Authority. And as fuch, whether they
are in Communion with their Brethren,
within the EftabHlhment, or with any Con-
gregation, under what Denomination foever,

ou t

k

( 7) .

out of it *, it is conceived, with all humble
Submifllon to your Lordfhip's, that they
ought to be upon an Equallity, as to their
Civil Capacities, and Liberties, to fcrve the
Publick, for the following Reafons, Becaufe,

I. It adds to the Power of the Crown.

II. It feciires the Eftablijhed Church,

II f. It would reconcile and bring in man^ of

the DilTentcrs. And,
IV. The AEis made to the contrary^ bdvs

never been the Produce of Mature De^

liberation^ but of Party Zeal.

I. That it would add to the Power of tba
Crown, and Jlrengthen the Conflitution^ it is
humbly prcfuin'd your Lordfhips will allow,
becaufe fuch Power and (uch Strength is al-
ways, under the fame Laws, or Regulations,
in Proportion to the Number who fupport it.
All fuch Ads therefore which diveft a Part
of the Community of their Share in fuch Sup-
port by Difqualifications^zTQ equally prejudici-
al to the withdrawing fomany from the Com-
munity, or diminifhing t<he whole, by fo ma-
ny as are under thofe Difqualifications.

If any hereunto urge, that Places of Pow-
er and Truft, either Civil or Military, are
not fo many but that they may be filled by
Pcrfons of the Eftabiilhed Church : To fuch
it may be returned, that innumerable unfore-
feen Difficulties, in forae Exigencies and Cir-
curaftances, may arife to the Publick from

fuch

(8)

fuch a Limitation'^ (for as to the equal
Right 01 the Subjcd, it is thrown out of the
-Queftion, and has been fufficiently Debated
iong fincc) as in the Cafes of fuddain Invafi-
.on, or Rebellion, both which this Kingdom
has too often been threatcn'd with •, the inofl
able and befl qualify'd Perfons to head a fuf-
ficient Power to rcpell, or fupprefs fuoh -Evils
''\in their Beginning, may be under UgdlOif-
qualifications for any Thing of Command, or
'^uthority^ fo that a Lam^Ior J m;\y be-fbrced
-to- carry a Mufltet under his T^»/jw?j or an
experienced Ferfon in fuch AfFairs, be- under
the Diredion of one who knows nothing of
Hhe Matter ; or clfe the * Publick ninft want
etheii: Service -^ which many Times, -in fuch
^Exigencies, may be of 'fatal Confequence.
-And (ince many of the King's Subjeds have
,t)een thus in Fetters, the PuBlick has expe-
• rienc'd divers Inconveniencies in the Militia ^
nn many Places there not being a fufficient
-Number who lunderftand the Bufinefs, and
-can comply with thofc Quahfications, to Of-
-£cer the Regiments ^ fo that they who' have •
-the Direction of thofe Affairs, are tinder a
Nereflfty of Gommifiioning Ferfons* '^utterly
unskilled in the Bulinefs, or fuch as ■are'^dif-
^aifeded to the Government, whi<;h is iiiuch
vworfe-, as the Confequenceof having; Men
.'in Arms under fuch CoiniMTiders',-' has-bten
•experienced to be very fatal and mifchievous,'
-when any publkk OccafiGn, ot DiftOrbainces
have called tor their Service* ^feeCity of

Londofi

Xo«t/©«hastoogrievouny felt this, becaufe that
very Power that has been calJed upon, for
their Protedion, by this Me^ins h^iS been of-
ten turned againft them -^ and thofe very
Perfons who were commiirioned to fupprefs
Difturbances, upon certain Occafions, havcj
from the Inftigation of contrary Principles,
frequently connived at, and fometiines abet-
ted "and encourag'd them. And this is now
particularly complained of by many of the
Lieutenancy in the Towtr Hamlets^ that they
cannot Officer their Companies, with proper
perfons, that are hearty in the Intereft of the
prefent Government, and Encouragers o£
thofe Principles that are its Support, by Rca-
fon of Parliamentary Difqualifications.

But the greateft Prejudice to the City iri
particular, from this Unequality of Civil Ca-
pacity in the Subjecl, is in their Council^
which is ^innually cholen. For many Wards
cannot find the NumberJ it is their Priviledgq
to be reprefcnted by, that are well qualify *d
for fuch a Truft, by their natural and acqui-
red Endowments, but who are either difabled
from Serving, or by their Difaffedion to the
Government, and Propagation of Principles
and Meafures to its Detriment, are not fit to
be fo intrufted •, -the Inconv-cniencies of whicK
have been found very great in many Inftan-
ccs, too tedious to particularize to your Lord-
(hips •, and which may at fome Time or other
be yet attended by worfe Cdnfequences, if

B they

( 'O

they are not unbound, who are the properefl'
Perfons for fucb Services.

And in the Commiflion of the Peace, the
Griev.mces hence arifing, are equally mani-
fefl and dangerous. Many Plices, in the
Country, have not Perfons tit and fkilful to
aft in fuch an Office, that are not hereby
difablcd to ferve in it •, fo that for the Ma-
nagement of the publick Bufinefs, there is
a Neceflity of putting in fuch Perfons, who,
thro' their Prejudices and DifafFedions, watch
all Opportunities of encouraging an Intercflr
contrary to that of the Government ^ and as
far as is confident with their Safety, will en-
courage and fhelter the Enemies of our pre-
fent Eftablilhent, at the fame Time that they
exercife all the Rigour and Severity in their
Power, upon all thofe who are known to be
its Friends.

That this is one of the unhappy Confc-
quences to the Publick, of Civil Difqualifica-
tions, cannot but have too often come before
your Lordfnips Notice. During the late ww-
natural Rebellion, it is too remarkable how
the Neceffity hereby of Commiflionrng difaf-
feded Perfons in the Peace, gave Life to, and
animated that wicked Caufe-, becaufe that
Authority which fhould have been zealoufly
employed in the Crufhing it, was in the
Hands of thofe who were well-Wifhers to it,
and Secretly affifted in it, if not Openly-^^
tho*one melancholly Inftance there has been
of the lad Demand of the Law upon a Per-
iod

Ton in this Commiuion, who was convj£led of
Ading hirafclf in that execrable Attempt.

The^c are Confiderations which cannot
but have their due Weight in your Lord-
(hips impartial Judgment •, and mufl prevail
with every one v^^ho has at Heart the Interefl
of-his Country, to endeavour the Removal
of the Caufe, by putting every Eriu{h Sub-
jerl upon the fame Capacity of Difcharging
his Duty to the Publick, and giving thereby
to the Crown a greater Power for its De-
fence, becaufe it will add to the Number of
its Servants, and fupply fuch a choice of
Perfons, for all Employs, as are heartily in
its Intereft.

Many other Confiderations of Moment
might be* offered to your Lordtnips upon
this Head, of Enlarging the Power of the
Crown, by enlarging not only the Number
of Servants, but imploying many of greater
Abilities and Fidelity-, which are here wa-
ved, in Regard to the Value of your Lord-
ftips Time, which is not to be diverted, but
jDy what is of the laft Importance. And at
this Time more efpecially, your Lordlhips
cannot but with uncomujon Satisfadion u-
nite in any Meafures, for the Support and.
Encreafe of ^ fowt)\ now in PolTeflion of a
Prince, who defpifes all Greaintfs, hut what
arifes from the (Irideff Juflice, and fets no
Value on Power further than it adminifters
Occafion of d*>ing Good •, of Protecting the
pommunity over vv'hich it prefid^es, and
B 2 keeping

( 12)

keeping in Awe all thofe who are Enemies
to its Frofperity. So that every Addition
of Poiver to the Sovereign, is now a riew x^c-
quilition ofldUctty to xht People, ^nd. making
the Kn^g Great, is truly making the Suhjeii
Hrjppj •, nnd therefore done, it is prefumed,
can be either jealous of its Enlargement, or
againit any Me^ifures for its Increafe,, unlefs
thofe who with for its utter Subverfion, ir)d
are in the Intereft of its open Enemies.

REASON n. It a J Js to the Security of

■ the Chnrcb. •

It is with the utmoft Sorrow and Concern,
that there is any Occafion of explaining to
your Lordfhip's, what is hereby delircd to
be underftood by the Terra Church'^ for
tuch has been the abufe of it, of late, that it
is almofl left, a Sound without a Meaning.
Here therefore is meant, all thofe in thai;
Communion, whofe Difcipline, and Ceremo-
iiies, are agreed to, and fettled by, the Legi-
flative Fart of the Nation, of which the
King is Supream Head. And herein I beg
Leave to be fo particular, becaufc, moft, in their
•Debates of this kind, confound the Doftrine
i\nd CreJenda of Religion, which are deriva-
ble only from a Divine Authority, with the
Ceremonial Part of V/orfhip, which is deter-
iTiinable by Humane Authority, and is in-
diffsren^ly in the Choice of every Congrega-
gation or Community , which makes it greatly

': . : ^ ;;; . : ■■ J- i I tO

\

C '3 )

^o be wifhed, that People would learn to
underftand, by this Term, when ufcd with
regard to Doclrines, all thofe who are of
the fame Faith, as to the ElTentials of Reli-
gion-, and then all Proteftants are of the
fame Church, of which Chrijl only is the
Head •, and when it is ufed with Relation
to fuch Humane Laws and Authority as
fettles the Ceremonies and DiCciplinc, as it
is limited to our own Courtry, they would
underftand that Church, to which is addei,
as by Law EfiabUp^'d, becaufe the Civil Au?
thority made it fuch, and conflitutcd the King
Head thereof.
In this Senfe therefore, and in no other,
. it is prefumcd your Lordfhip's would plcafeto

. have the ExprefTion oij'he Church of EngUndas
hj Law EftabUjhsd^ extend. This undertaking,
then, is only to offer it, with all Humility,
to your LordOiip's, That the Church will Dc
rendered much more Secure, by every thing
that is an addition to the Power of th€
Crown •, becaufe, upon fuch an Eftabifhment,

\ it is fo Interwoven, and made a Part of the
Civil Conftkution, that one cannot Subfift
but by the other-, and that therefore the
Sefcurity, or Danger of the Churchy will al-
ways be, as is the Security ^ or Danger of the
^tate, becaufe they are inleperablc. It mu(t
be confefl'ed, indeed, that we have been much
alarmed with a Church, that has always
been upon a contrary Security, its Danger
cncrealing with the Profpcrity of the State;

ar\d

( '4)

and its Security arifing from thcDcftruftion'
of the Civil Power. But it cannot be hid
to your Lordfhip's Penetration, who muft
be the Agents in fucb Out-crys, and that a
Church fo conflitutcd, can only be a Branch
of that which exercifes the worft of Tyran-
nies over both tlie Civil and Religious Rights
of all within the Reach of her Power ^ and
that the Promoters of fuch l^otions want
rather to invade us with a l>!ev? Churchy
than to Eftablifti, upon a better Security, that
which we have already.

One Meinorablc,and for ever to be Lamented
an Inftance, we have of this near Relation, or
rather Unipn, of the Church with the State,
in the unhappy Reign of King Charles I..
As the Crown fiosk, the Church tremhledy
'till at laft both fell into the fame Grave
together •, tho' then, indeed, the Name was ,
kept alive, but in the fame manner only
as it is now, when divefled of its Civil Efta-
blifhment, to propogate Confufion, and ferve
the wicked Purpofes of crafty State! nien, and
Politicians.

In a true, therefore, and proper Senfe, if
will amount even to Demonftration, that eve-
j-y Addition to the Fower of the Crown^ muft
be an Addition to the Security of the Church,

And for that very defirable End, the Na-
tion has not only all the Security, and Af-
furances immaginable, from the Nature of
Things, and the very Genius and Texture of
the Conftitution, but from the repeated vno^
* gracious

C -5 )

gracious Promifes from the Throne. His-
Majefty has, upon all Occafions, declared his
Concern for that Part of the Conftitution,
and engaged in the mod Solemn manner, his
RoyalWord in its Support and Encouragement,
and, which is more than all, has demonftrated
in every Part of his wife Adminiftration, the
Sincerity of fuch Decorations. Your Lord-
fhip's therefore, *tis prefumed, cannot but
conlider, with forae- concern, the Uncafinefs
of many, who lament the Diminution of 3
Power, by Parliamentary Incapacities, fo
necefTar}^ as that of the Crown to the Pro-
tedion of a Church, they have the moft
fincere Zeal for ^ and therefore, with the ut-
mofl Humility, your Lordfliip's great VVei^rht
in Parliament, is implored in the Redrefs of
fuch Grievances, when it fhall come before
You, in a proper manner, to decide hereupon-
Howfoever your great Names have been be-
fpoke on the other fide.

We cannot be at all apprehenfive of vour
Lordfhips giving into the Jealoufy of ^ any
Dangers to the Eftr^blifned Church, by a Re-
moval of the le^al Difqj Jirications, and let-
ting Proteftants of all Denominations into an
equal Share of Em'^loy under the. Crown ^
Becaufe your Lordlhips have larger Views,
and form a Judgment upon much jufler
Grounds than thofe of inferiour Rank and
Capacity ; who do not rightly diftinguiili be-
tween Rcl gi »n and a Name, and cannot tell:
the Difference between a Syftem of Doctrines

and

( '6)

and Articles, by which the whole Chriftiati
Proteftant World, are of the Church of Chrift^
as having their Force and Authority from
Him only, and againft which the Gates of
Hell have nev^r prevailed^ nor never (hall ^
and a Schem© of Difcipline and . Ceremonies,
in the Power of every Community to make
for themfelves, and which is the very Ef-
fence of the Church of England^ ashy Law
Eftablifhed, of which, a. Temporal Prince
is the Head, and which has been prevailed
againft, and may be agaift, whenfcever its
Civil Head upon the Throne fhall be fo limi-
ted in his Power, as not to be able to de-
fend it. Your Lordfhips can fee that this
Churchy which is Civil and Parliamentary,
?s beft fecured by adding to the Power of the
Crown, which is its Protection •, and by fo
doing contributes to the Security of the Pro-
teflant Religion in general 5 beciufe the Do-
£lrines of Jefits. Ch/ifi are maintained therein
moft pure and uncorruptcd ^ and in which,
the BiJJejite^s being as exprefs and" firm
-as thofeofthe Eftabiifiiment, it is impofTiblc, irt
reality, to fear any danger from thera,asitisa
Church ofChrifi'^ and as a National Church,^
the Crown mull always interpofe between
Them, and any Attempts to alter it, becaufc
fuch Attempts can never fucceed without Un-
hinging the whole Conflitutmi •, and making
the Deftrudion of the Regal Authority, the
Forerunner of that of the Chmb»

■

C>7)

iJIl^- ^'^^S ^^^r^nce we owe to your
l.ord(hips, makes us very tender in Cen»
fares that m.y in the Je^ft favour of Uncha-
riublenefs- but it is prefumed, that upon an
impartul Survey of that part of the Nation
which IS thus for Cramping the Regal Aul
homy, by /ajjn^ ,, ^,,,,,, , \ ^

• ''' t'^^^^'^ '^'y ^^^i be found either fuch
as thro a Covetoufnefs of the Profits of Ser-
ving the Crown, exped their Account mofl"
by keeping It, n the fewer Hands, or thofe
who have Views in Purmit, which the Regal
Authority will always b^ a Bar againft.
i^or everyone who loves his Country,- muft
love^the Religion thereof, or be a Friend to
Its I refervation, becau-fe it is the grand Ce-
men; o its Interefl^ and as the Eftablifhed
National Cbnrcb is the main Bulwark of that
Kehgion, oy fupporting us O^diinesin their
greatelt Purity, fo. they mufl be equally
Friends to that EftabliOiment : and, in Or-
der to fecure it, be willing to join in any
Meafures of Strengthening the Power of the
Own, -becaufe That is itsProtcdion.

REASON III. 'That it would help to re^
concile the DiiTenters, and hrinz them hi-

bring
LGmmu7uoti of t'
Church.

to the CGmmuniou of the Ejlabiijhed

U H"/^ ^?^ Humanity are certain fv ths
beft Methods of making Profelytes., there is
no Rodm fcr Argument to take Phce upon

^ any

(i8)

any one, untill kind Treatment has brought
the Ferfon in an Error, to a good or favou-
rable Opinion of him who would convince
him of his Mift ikes. . As nothing draws fo
powerfully as the Chord of Love, fo no-
thing can more effeduaiiy confirm any one
in his Miftakes, as to prejudice him againft •
thofe of a contrary Opinion, in PoiTeflion of
the Truth, by Severities. But it muft be al- •
together needlefs to obferve to your Lord-
fhips any thing from fuch Confiderations, be-
caufe your great Penotration and Infight into
human Nature, and your great Knowledge
and Experience in the Genius of Chriftia-
nity, -cannot but thoroughly have apprifed
your Lordfliips of the true and generous
Motives fuch Meafur&s are hail influenced

by-

It may not, however, be amifs to obferve,
with all Humility, to your Lordfhips, that-*
the Eftablifhed Church never got Ground,
by any Oppreffions or UnkindnefTes whatfo-
ever, over thofe not in her Communion. .

For this, we need not go back further th^n
the Reign of King Charles the Firft ^ (ince
which, there has been very remarkable Inftan-
ccs of the EfFecls, both of Mildnefs and Seve-
rity. In that unhappy Reign, did the Church
carry it with fo high a Hand, over her Bre-
thren in Diilention from her Ceremonies on- •
Jy, that at length (he brought the Authority
of the Croimi fo far into her Unchriltian
>'Ieafurc3, as to opprefs them in their v^ivil

Liberties,

Liberties, and Enjoyments • the 'DijJ'enters
ceafed not only to be treated as Cbrifti.ins
and Subjects, but had hardly the Regards due
to them as Fellow Creatures. Which ill
Uf^ge, in a future 'Concurrence of Incidents,
fufnciently fhewed the Fruits of fo ill a
Seed 5 and the Hatred confirmed in them, by
fufh ill Treatment, difcovered it (elf after-
wards in Refentments, and a Vengeance, that
deftroyed both thofe Authorities that had u-
nited in their Oppreflion. 'I be great Weak-
nefs of the Croivti^ indeed much contributed
hereunto^ for when that was once diihonou-
rably proftituted to the Ambition and Lufi:
of fome Church- Men, a common Enemy took
Advantage of that unhappy Pofture, and
undoubtedly much contributed to the Suc-
cefs of the Injured, in their Revenp;e ^ and
were the fecret Prompters of tfiofe Mea-
fures which brought the whole Kingdom into
a Scene of Blood and Confafion. And it ■
is with the utmoft Grief, that we cannot
forbear here of particularly obferving to your
Lordthips, that the Pride of the Archbifhop,
in raifing ihtF ov^er of the Church above the'
Povpey of Gcdlint'fs^ was the greatefl Inflru-
ment in that unnatural Tragedy j and that
the Weaknefs of the King in R;oing into
fuch an Alliance, was the Deflruclion bo h of
himfelfand his Ivingdoms^ and theMifc'iicfs
which enfued, how grievous (oever, are ra-
ther to be deemed the Effeds of Refifitni^nt^
than Fri?iC7p!e,

• G 2 The

(20>

TheReflauratio:! Tet the Crowti ^MiidChuyeh
once again upon their common Found;uion,
and the Byafs ran .as flrong upon the other
Extream. Fitritmnfm gave way to open De-
bauchery •, and Ranting and Profanity took
Place of Pha?iat7€7ffn, 'till at .laft, in meer
Wantonnefs, and for Sport fake, rather than
out of any Principle, or good Policy, were
the DiJ] enters harreiVed, dragooned, and plun-
dered, in fuch manner, that they were de-

■ barred from Worfhip ^ their Goods were fie-
zed •, and their Perfons thrown into the coin-
nion Prifons. And how remarkable muft it
have been to your Lord{hips } to fee how thofe
Cruelties united all the difagreeing Sedfaries
into one common Int&refl:, and made them,
by Oppreflion, more ftanch in their Princi-
ples, and confirmed their Diffention into an
infuperableObllinacy, and Hatred againft that

■ Church, for whofe Safety this was pretended
to. have been done.

The fucccedirAg Reign vi%as, in a very un-
common manner, remarkable for the Crowti* s
coaxing them again with their Liberties, in
bopes of making their Refentments againft the
Eftablifted Church, for paft Injuries, Inftru-
ments of ruining It, to let in That g{ Rome ^
but yet fo firm were they to the true Intereft
of their Country, as generoufly to fall in
with all proper Meafures for Preferving the
Churchy becaufe they were fenfible, the Pro-
tedant Religion,, and their Civil Liberties,
would fink in Its Ruin^ which, aa' it mufl
'' r ' :'■' • .• - ■ • needs

'~ilMiiM«ttrfl1^ii"yiiii

(^0

needs be a Proof with your Lordfiilps, of
the Dijfenters (inccre Regard to the Churchy
■ as part of the Ccnllitution, fo it is hoped, it
will be to all others a Convidion of their
Readinefs to unite in her Defence againft any
common Danger j and the happy Confequen-
^ ces of fuch a Concurrence, will always be re-
membered witii the utmoft Gratitude to the
Inflruments of it, by all who have any Senfe
of, and Value for, their Religion, and Civil
Privileges ^ becaufeit brought the Nation un-
der a new Head, who not only took care to
.have thofe invaluable BleiTings fecured-to it,
during that Reign, but, -from his wife Fore-
iight, alfo tranfmitted them to Pofterity.

Then was it ■ that the Church reaped the
happy and plcafing Fruits oi Moderation, and
Chrifiian Charity -^ the Example of a Prince,
full of natural Goodnefs and Humanit}^ foon
influenced thofe in a fubordinate Power to
draw into Pradice fo heavenly a Pattern.
The narrow Diftindions, between thofe- of
tiie Eftablifhment, and the Dijfenters there-
from, were almofl: forgot , Men were" aded
by more generous Motives ; and to ferve God
and their Country, as far as their Capacities
enabled them, almoil grew the common Re-
ligion of the Nation. Then it was the D//-
fenter was eafy^ and then it was that the
Church flourifhed^ becaufe Brotherly Love,
and the Exercife of Charity, made the Dif.
fenter begin to refped- the Church, as Fellow
Chriftians, and not as Perfscutors andOp-

• prcfTors,

(22)

preiTors ^ and, to many Perfons Knowledge
now living, the Meetings grew thin, and the
FariJJj Churches were crowded.

And your Lordfhips muft have taken No-
tice of the happy Influence "of fuch generous
Principles upon the fucceeding Reign ^ be-
caufe They trained up fuch a Nurfery of
Heroes ^nd Patriots, as made the World fear
and admire them. The Queen and the Pro-
tejlant Religiofi, then were equally the
Wonder of the Earth ; and there was no
Diftindion, cr Contention, between the Sub-
jefts of Great Brkahi, but who loved their
Country and their Sovereign beft. But —
GoJ, ^t lengthy for our Sins, took away this
lovely FrofpeB. A Minifler of Darknefs, a-
larras the Nation with a horrible Phantorae,
under the Difguife, and. Appellation, of a
Church ^ the whole Conftitution (hook at
the Appearance, and, without a (ingular Inter-
pofition of Providence, muft have fallen into
utter Ruin. Upon that fatal Turn, a l^ame
only, triumphed again over Religion •, and
all the Ties, and Obligations of publick So-
ciety, were moft wickedly violated, as 'well
as the Duties of private Life, which brings
us to the Lift Reafon, to which, with the
urmoft Sabmiflion, is begged your Lord-
fliips Attention, upon this important Af-
fiir.

REASON

( n )

REASON IV. Jlh thofe Laws for Ci~
v'll Difqualificat'wns^ have not been the
Frodiice of mature Deliberation^ fo inucb
as of Party Heat. .

This cannot be taken Notice of, but with
the utraofl concern, efpecially to yourLord-
ihip's, who muft have too true a Regard to the
Honour of things Sacred, and of a Religious
Import, to fee them Froflituted to Secular
purpofes, without a due Abhorrence of fuch
Pradices, When fuch a Party, or Fadion,
get the Afcendant, that lifts under the Name
of Church - and Strips it from Religion to
make it a Tool of Sntc •, then all thefe, in-
deed, as are not of their Completion, and
cannot go their Lengths, fli^ll be Branded
for Heretkk?^ Schifmaticks^ or any Name of
Reproach, fufhcient to render them obnoxi-
ous to the Legiflative Power, and procure fuch
Ads as may difqualify them from a Mera-
berlhip in the Community •, that is, of ferv-
ing their Country in any employ, the Go-
vernment may have Occafion for them in.
And never have things run high in this
Channel,, but when under the Influence, of
narro V and feiiith, or very wicked and
traiterous Defigns. .

In that thoughtlefs, wanton. Reign, when
the We.kh and Sirength of the Nation, was
draining off as fail as pofTible to fupport the
Extravagancies of a Debauch'd Court at

Home.

( 24 )

Home, and Favour the deltruftive Greatnefs
of a Neighbouring TVIonarch ;, then was al°
moft half the Nation Boimd under a Pretence
6f the Church, but with a real Intention to
make the Conftitution fall the eafier Sacri-
fice. When Debauches, and Profligates, were
the Patriots of their Country, and all was
giving up the cheapefi way to a Furreign
Tyrant, then was Religion banifhcd for an
empty Name, and the Nation was to have
the ' Sanation of the Churches Seal to its
Ruin: Under Pretences of Serving and Se-
curing that, the beft Subjcd-s are laid in
Chains, and the Saving the Churchy is im-
pioufly made a Handle, for defihying the
People*

And how much better Times, and better
Profpeds were hafteningupon us, when lately
the fame Engine was played againft the Na*
tion. The Churchy broke our moft Solemn
Engagements and Alliances •, The Church be-
trayed our Confederates, and made a Sacri-
fice of the diftreifed in our Protection ; The
Church divided a Vidorious Army , Ths
Church hudled up an Igno.niious Peace ♦, and
Th^ Church for our lafting Security after all
thofe glorious Exploits, binds in Fetters, half
the Subjcds in the Kingdom.

When thefe things, my Lords, come be-
fore your Serious Review , and you confi-
der how near^ how ' very near^ the Nation
has been brought to Deftrudion, by thefe
holy Artifices, it is not at all doubted, but

your

f

<^ '5 ) .

your Lordihip's will concur in all Meafures
proper, to retrive the Honour and GJory of
the Britifh Conftitution, and bring Affairs
back to that happy Poflure, when we loved
one another as Brethren, and Fellow. Chrifti-
ans, and heartily united for the Publick
Good •, by the Stricking off thefe Shakles,
v/hich are not only the continual Promoters
and Incentives of ill Blood and Hatred, but alfo
the great weakners of that Power, which is
our common Protection.

Thus, my Lords, with the utmofl Humi-
lity and Submiflion, are laid before you
thefe few Reafons^ out of a great many,
which might be Suggefted, to fhew the Ad-
vantages that would accrue to the Publick,
hy placeing all hisMajefty's SubjeQs upon an
equal Foot, with Rehtion . to their Civil
Capacities. And this h.\s, been done with,
the utmofl Brevity in Regard to the great
Value of every Moment of your Lordiliip's
Time. But if Leifure will admit of any
further Review, of what may be Suggefted
from fo mean an Inftruraent, a.s this comes
from, your Lordlhip'^j attention is humbly
prayed to thefe After Confideratlons.

That we deiire with Earneflnefs not to
be underflood, concerning, adding to the
Fower of the Crown : For it muft be owned
that a Fewer therein, va^y be fo great, as
juftly to create Jealoufies, and UneafinelTes,
in the People, For tho' a good Prince can-

D ^ not

• • • » .tr

(26)

not be too abfolute, in his Authority, becaufe
he will always confult, and aft, for the
good of his Subjeds ^ yet if fuch a one bs
complimented into a Power, over which the
People have no Check, and that be tranf-
mitted to Pofterity;, humane Frailties may,
in fomc, privail fo, as to employ fuch a
Power to Mifchievous Purpofes, and to the
great Detriment of the Community.
• Of any approaches towards fuch a Fower^
the People of the Britifli Nation, are moft
Apprehenfive of a Standing Army ^ that is
of fuch a Military Power, at the Command
of a Prince, as exceeds what is necelTary for
Guards and Garrifons, in time of Peace. But
your Lord[hip*3 will readily difcern that,
any Additition to fuch a Power, is fo far
from being Suggefted, or deducible, from any
of the foregoing Reafons, that it is quite
the contrary •, for they plead only for Streng-
thening the Civil Authority of the Crown.
And my Lords, in Proportion to the en-
creafc of That, with the other be always
lefs wanted. How much the more all Ci-
vil Employs are difcharged by Perfons of
Ability and Fidelity, by fo much the Icfs
is the Nation liable to Diflurbances, and
confequently will their be lefs Occafion for
a Soldiery ^ for that Power in time of Peace,
is no other but an Auxilliary to the Civile
and to be called in only when Diforders run
too high for the Magiftrates to Corred. To
lelTen therefore any Occafions, for fuch

Help»

^' "7 ).

Helfi, which is not only dilTagreeable to the
People, but alfo cxpenfive to them, the moft
ready and fure way is to Strengthen the
Civil Power -^ which is Strengthening the
Crown in fuch a manner, as from the very
Nature of things, adds uppon all Ac-
counts to the Security of the People •, becaufe
fuch a Strength arifes from the chearfuU
and Faithful difcharge of Duty in the Sub-
J€ft, to the Community-, fo that in (lead of
making any part of the State dangerous, to
any other part of the State, it is the mofi
naturail Bond and Cement of a mutual In-
terefl, and makes the Welfare of the Crown
^nd the Subject infeperable.

By how much the more Faithfully the
King is ferved in Civil Employs^ fo much
the lefs Occaficn will there be for the un-
grateful ahd Expenfive aid of a Militarj
Power. And ihe late Rehellhu, fuppjys us
with too convincing Arguments of this
truth. The Legal Incapacities^ under which
the beft Friends to their Country lay bound,
in the clofe of the late Reigii, made it ne-
celfary to fupply many Civil' Pofts of great
Confequcnce, and Truft, with Ferfons, much
more inclined to an interelf that was con-
triving our Dcflrudion, than that of pre-
ferving the Honour ot their Country, their
Religion and Liberties. This made eafy way
for a Rebellion, when Perfons dared openly
avow their Prejudices to the Vrotcjlant Sue-
cejjion^ and their AfFeclions to a kulcr^ who

D 2 could

( 28 )

could never be had without a Subverfion
of the Conllitution both in Church ?ind
State -^ and all without Impunity, or Difcou-
ragement from the Magiflrate. And this
being the unhappy Pofture of Affairs in
which his prefent Majefty found this Na-
tion ^ and a Rebellion, hatched up under the
Influence of thofe fatal Mcafures, breaking
out foon after his Majeljy*s AccefTion to the'
Crown, a great charge was necelTarily put
upon the Nation, to raife a Military Force^
to refettle thofe Diftiirbances, which grew
put of an ill Diftnbution and ufe of the
Civil Torver. For had all ComBiiflions of
the Peace, Leiutenancy, Militia, and fuch
like Polls, been filled with Perfons of Zeal
and Fidelity to the Frotejiant SucceJJion,
your Lordlhip's, and all the confiderate part
ofMankind, will believe, that thofe Traiterous
Intentions might have been crufhcd in Em-
bryo, and the Rebellion flifled in its Birth ^
whereby a vafl Expence would have been
faved to the Nation ^ and many Lives have
been faved, that were loft in the Field, or
Forfeited by t;he Laws. His Majefty in-
deed, as foon as could be, turned out many
Difaffeded Perfor-s and filled their Places
with the befl that could be found within
the Legal QziaUficatio7is'^ but thofe Fatal
Bonds tyed the Hands of fo many, that, as
it has been already obferved to your Lord-
fhip's, many Places Were forced to remain
in the Execution of fuch whp efpoufed and

aMed

hu.

.1^.^

( =9 )

afliilecl the Canfe of the Enemy, rather thaia
that of their King and Country.

We cannot therefore but with the ut-
moft Eameflnefs, that is confident with the
Deference, due to your Lordthips great Cha-
raders -and Stations, intreat^ that an Affair
of fuch great Importance to the common
Good, may have its due Weight in
your Lordihips Determirrations^ and that
no pittial Regards may come into Compe-
tition with the Intereft of our Sovereign,
and the Profperity of his Kingdoms. Tho*
the Salaries and Profits of many Civil
EmpLys, have too much their Influence,
upon fome felhih little Minds, who are
therefore for Engrotlmg them within the
Church's Pale, not for any Security to
That, but for their private Advantage-
yet we are certain, that much more ex-
tenfive Views, and much more generous
Motives, will weigh with your Lordfliips
in this momentous Debate ^ while fuch con-
fider the Polls for their Profits only, your
Lordfhips will regard them as they are
in themfelves, Fortrejfes and Securities to
the Government ^ and therefore purfue
fuch laudable and generous Meafures, as beft
provide for their Supply, with Perfons, who
will beft anfwer the important Ends of
Government, and the true Purpofes for
which they are conflituted.

How mean and unjufl, as well as invi-
duous, do fome- Perfons, who would put

themfelves

( 30 )

thcmfelves off for great Friends to the
Church, argue ? When they fay, Hoip can
thofe who are not of the CHURCH, put
in any Pretenjions to its Profits.^ For fuch
hereby not only confound the Church of
England with the Church of Chrift, but al-
fo ercd it into the Seat of the Sovereign.
For, as it has before been juft fuj^gtfted
to your Lordfhips, The Church of England
as by Law Eftablijhed, is not any mere a
Church of Chrift, than the Church oi Scot-,
lafid, or any other National Ch«rch, of
Protcft>int Chriftians, who all agree in the
fame EfTcntial Articles ^ becaufe it only
makes a Part of That Church, and there-
fore, upon that Foot, has nothing to claim
of fuperiour Merit before the Dijfenters^
who are equally Members with therofelves.
Befides, in this refpeft, the Employs here
contended about, have no Relation to it.
If then the proper and true Scnfe be af-
fixed to it, and by it is meant, that Part
of the Kingdom which arc in Communi-
on, upon fuch Terras and Obfervances,
which the Civil Legijlative Power has
thought meet to order, for Decency, in the
Externals of Worfhip, and Difcipline •, then
fuch Reafoners ufurp a Power not their
Due, and the Creature lifts it felf above
the Creater, by affuming a Right which is
only in the Nation's common Head upon
the Throne, and arrogating That to a
Part of the Conftitution, which is lodg^

• ed

I

( 31 )

cd in ihe Sovereign for the good of the
whole.

The Enquiry therefore in this Cafe, we
humbly prefume to your Lordfhips, is,
not whether fuch a one is a Church-wan^
or not -^ but whether fuch a one be a
good Subje^i^ and is ready to give any
Civil Pledge of his Affedion and Fideli-
ty to the Government. There is none
indeed can difpute it, but that an honeji
Churchman rauft be a good SubjeB : But,
my Lords, once again we beg Leave "to
remind you, that this Title has been fo
fhamefully, and mifchievoufly abufed of
late, that the Enemies, both of our Reli-
gion and Government, have mod arrogated
it to themfelves ^ infomuch, that lately the
mod enormous Crimes have been perpe-
trated under its Sanction ^ and the Term
now is oftner allumed, and more noifed a-
bout, by Rebels, than by Perfons of any
Regard to Religion, or the Good of their
Country, When therefore thofe Intruders
and Impoftors are difown'd, and the Church
comes to be refertled upon its proper and
■ legal Foundation, it cannot be doubted,
but that*your LordOiips will find fo much
Affinity between all under that Compre-
henfion, and their Proteftant Brethren, who
are out of, as to affifl in giving the Crown,
tliat is, in other Words, the publick Com-
munity, an equal Privilege of their Servi-
cesr

There

\

( sO

There are other pretended Advocates fot
the Church too, who cannot think of a
Dfff}fnter, but they prefently talk of Un-

. tiermimng^ and Sapp'nig Foundations. But
?'Our Lordfhips, and all under your Influ-
fkience and Directions, cannot be at all af-
feded by fach Delufory Sounds, The Dif-

fcnters are ftriftiy and aSfolutely of the
fame Religion, as thofe within the Natio-
nal Communion, how much foever Incen-
diaries, and the Enemies, of the Nation's
Peace and Happinefs, endeavour . to widen
and aggravate • the Difference. And while
the Church arrogates no Power that' be-
longs not to her, nor draws down any
Aids from the Crown, by groundlefs In(i-
nuations againfl her Proteflant Brethren,
as forae Hot-Heads have heretofore done
in the Reigns of weak Princes, the Dif-

fenters envy them not, and have nothing to
difpute with them for •, nor is it any thing,
the Laws of the Kingdom give the Church,
but what the wifeft amongft them know it
5'tV their Intereft to wifli well to, and ufe
their utmofl Endeavours in its Support, fo
far "are they from Sapping any of its Foun-
datwns. And the worft of their* Enemies
cannot produce any one Charge againft them,
cf attempting any thing to the Prejudice
or Difquiet of the Church, when the
Church has not iirft provok*d them, by Ex-
ercifing fume Power to their Prejudice, not
within their Jurifdidion, either from a

Divine

Divine, or humane Origen. So far therefore
will your Lor(l(hip*s bs from finding any dan-
ger to the Church from the DilTenters, that
when they equally enjoy the Priviledges of
the Community, and the Pubiick Exigen-
cies have equally their Services, they will
be mutually a fupport to each other, and
jointly add a much greater Strength to the
Government.

It is with the utmoft concern and even
Horrour, that it is almoft impodlble to clofe
this Subjed, without reminding your Lord-
fhip's, what mufl: adminifler a great deal of
Grief and Refentmenr -^ as it will do to all,
who have any due Regard to the Honour
of the Chriftian Name in general, and par-
ticularly to the reformed Froteftant Reli-
gion, and that main fupport of ir, the Church
of Englajid. And rh.it is the Condud of
many of the In feriour Clergy.

The late violent Proceedings, in which,

amongft the Difcouragements loaded upon

all who were Friends to the Proteftant Suc-

Succeffion, the Diifentcrs had their fliarej

feemed to let loofe fuch a Spirit of Bitter-

nefs and Envy, that when the Civil Power

had laid in Chains almoft half the Nation,

Under a Notion of fecuring the Church, and

difabled them from ferving their Country, •

the Pulpits were Rung againft the Dilfen-

ters, and they were Pronounced upon by

i fome, of more Zeal than Knowledge or Cha-

itity, as Perfons not only conlignabk to eter-

i . . E nal

(34)

r)Ai Damnation hereafter, but as not fit fey
enjoy the common Priviledgc of Society
here, or permitted to breath in a Country
amongft Church-Men. Thefe NarrownclTes,"

■ my Lords, and unchriftian Treatments, from
no other Motive than Pride and Ignorance ♦,
have almoft debafed the Name of Church

■ into Contempt and Reproach •, and not
only our Religion, but even the common
Ties of Society, and Neighbourhood, have

..:.A?*v- ahnoft been Preached away for an empty

..cJJi^Ti Name* So that to all thofe who have at
%2-^^ Heart the general good of Mankind, and
■''*''''"•'•* the Honour, of Rehgion, but more particu-
larly the Intereft of Great^Britain, and the
Credit of the 'National Efiahlifh'd Church,
fuch Meafures muft be very delirable, which
are likely to contribute, in blotting out
iuch Diftindions, and taking it out of the
Occafion and Opportunity of a vain wicked
Mind, to treat with fo much Inhumanity,
a Fellow Proteftant, and a Fellow Subjed.
• And as thofe valuable Regards^ are more
eminently under your Lordlhip's Review,
and ConceiriR, fo it is not queftioned, but
your great Authority, will be employed to
give ail fuch Meafures there wifhcd for Sue- ^
eefs • that v/e may not only live hereafter
more becoming Chriftians, and more like
Men, but fall into Iuch a mutual Confi-
dence, and good will towards each other,
as may both retrieve the loft Honour of ^^
our Religion, and our Country, and con-
tribute

(35)

tribute to the Strength and Authority of
the Government.

We cannot be in Pain about, what Side
your Lordfhips will determine on, in this
Affair, when your Lordfhips come to con-
fider likewife, that this mifchievous Divi-
(ion of the Nation, has not only deftrov-
ed all mutual Charity, and, under the
Name of a Church, brought a Reproach
upon Religion, but alfo even broke thofc
within the Pale^ into the moft unchriflian
Treatment of one another. The Preachers
of Peace, Charity, and good Works, are
fligmatized with Names of Reproach, as
Falfe Brethren, and Betrayers of their Or^
der-^ and what is the more furprillngly
remarkable, is, that One who now does
Honour to the Bench your Lordfhips fit
on, as well as to the Proteflant Name in
general, notwithftanding he is owned by
all the World, to have bed vindicated
vour Order, and the Church of England^
as by Ljw Efti^blifhed, of any yet, a-
giinfl: all its Enemies, and particularly
Presbytery •, yet, even this Perfon is re-
viled bv fome of the fame Church, and
fuggefted by them to their Hearers, to
be any thing thit may excite their Paflions
and Indignation •, and, tho* with tlie utmofl
Inconfiftency and Contr^diclion, will lome-
'» times have him to be a Presbyterian, and at
^'others a Puaker, or whatP:)ever beft gives

^' ' - E 2 Vent

lie

j^-^

Vent to their prefent Difpoiition of Wrath
towards him. Little better has it likewife
f.;ired with another of your Lordlhips Sta-
tion, whofe Miniftry and Example, for ma-
ny Years, in the Ciry oi London^ fupported,
amongfl thofe under his Care, a lively
Senfe of Piety, and brotherly Love-, and
warmed every attentive Hearer with the
Charms of Religion and Vertue, yet (ince
this worthy Perfon, and exemplary Chri-
flian, h^s, by the Favour of his Sovereign,
been ri'.ifed to a Station, wherein he has
judged it his Duty to cultivate fuch [Prin-
ciples, with Relation to Government, that
do no quadrate with the Apprehenlionsof
fome of the inferiour Clergy, who are ve-
hement for fomewhat they call a Church •,
he is treated bv them in a m.inner, that
purs not only Chrifhianity, but even Hu-
manity, to the Blufh.

Since therefore thp fource of thefe Mif-
chiefs, and Stains to the Chriftian Name,
mud be too notorioufly m^nifefl, to your
Lordiliip's to have had their Rife, from the
DiftinQions which a faUe Policy, and not
the Differences of Truth and Error, have
made in the Kin gdom -, it is, even with
Aifurance, that we promife our felves your
LordTnip's Application to, and Concurrence
"lyith proper Meafures to. heal fuch unhappy
Breaches. And mo:e efpecially too when \{
is f considered, how much th-efe Diviiions
y/eaken that Power, which is the main fup

por!

(37)

port of thewhole Conflitution ^ and that, be-
caufe not only the Security of the Nation,
but particularly th;it of theChurch of England,
are only to be reftored and encreafed, by pla-
cing again all his Majefty's Proteftant Subjeds,
upon an equal Foot of Capacity for Civil
Employs, your Lordfhip's will encourage
and expedite the Removal of thofe Inca-
pacities which in a few Years have done fp
much Mifchief.

A little more of your Lordfhips Pa-
tience, we muft yet crave, not fo much
to remind your Lordfhips of the reafona-
ble Explanations, lately given, by One up-
on your own Bench, concerning the Na-
ture and Obligations of Civil and Rehgi-
ous Tejis, as to take this Opportunity of
recommending them to the Acquaintance,
and ferious Attention of all Perfons what-
foever-, and this, with the moft humble
Submiflion, we beg Leave to do ^ becaufc
it is of no fraali Moment in this Debate,
to determine nicely what Tejls a Civil
Community can demand for PWges of Fi-
idelity from her Members, and what is not
In her Fower to convert to fuch Purpofes.

That Great Prelate tells us, that an Oath
fuppofes the Exiftence of a Being, or many
Beings, who will avenge and punifh Perju-
Yy\ and therefore that it is the beft Inftru-
nient which IVlen could contrive for the
Service of humine Society, in Cafes of

Propertjf^

( 38 )

Ffoperty, Life, and Death, That it is con-
trived for the Service of humane Life, in
this World, as the beft Methods of finding
out Truth, and fecuring Juflice, in Cafes
relating to SuhjeBs \ and of carrying for^
ward the Ends of Government^ when it is
required as a Security for Men who are
entering into fubordinate Offices^ without
whofe Help, the fupreme Magiftrate can
neither fupport himfelf, nor proted the
Rights of private Men. That the End of
it is wholly fecular and worldly : And
that in Cafes of Judicature, it is not a Po-
litical Tool, and an Engine of State *, but
an Inflrument of Juflice, Right, and Truth*,
as the Means of Impartiality, and of Procu-
ring to every one, what is xheir Due, and
what they have a Right to. But, the Ho-
ly Sacrament is entirely religious, and is a
Part of Worfliip in the Congregations of
Chriflians. It is a pofitive InPritution of
-bur Lord himfelf *, and the Celebration of
it, is his Command to his Difciples. It
was inftituted and ordained for the more ef-
fedual Memory of Htm^ who brought Life
and Immortality to Light \ and who by his
J)eath overca?ne Death. And, confequently,
to take This, and to turn it to any other
Purpofes of this Life, is to turn it from its
OriginaUnd Natural Purpofe, to, or againfl,
its own Nature, and contrary to the End
propofed by the Ordainer himfelf*, and to
make a folemn Inftitution of Religion, and a

Part

( 3P )

Part of Religious Worfliip, the Mear>s of Par-
tiality, and of Excluding Men from Civil
Employs, to which their Inftitution has no
more Relation, than the Complexion of a
Face, or the Colour of Hair •, is what caa
never be juftified by any iVrguments or Con-
fiderations whatfoever. And in his Lord*
fliip's own Words ^ ' To make the Celebra-

* tion of this Inftitution, which was ordain-
' ed and confined by our Lord himfelf to
' the feriou? Remembrance of his Death in

* the AfTemblies or Churches of Chriftians,

* to be the Inftrument of fome particular

* Sort of Chriftic-ns (^as well ^s of Athei/fs^

* Deifts, and Infidels) getting into Civil 0/-
' fices ^ and to be the Bar againfl other forts

* of C'-riflians ^ is dehafing the ?noJi facred

* Thing in the IVorld into a Political Tool, and
' an Efigine of'Sttae,

Thus much, my Lords, we could not
forbear offering, with all Humility, to your
wife Confideration particularly, becaufe fome
Perfons, who, by the Tenour of their Wri-
tings and Gonverfation, fhew an Oppoli-
tion to thofe Principles which are the Sup*
port of his M^jefty's Government, and con-
fequently the publick Good, h.ive, m a
very prcfumptuous manner, proraif.d the
World your LorJfhip's Authority againft
taking off thofe Bonds, which weaken the
common Intercfl cf the Nntion ^ endanger
the Church, by Divilions and Aniraofities^

and

I

^IfsP/H^

(40)

and threaten Defolation to the whole Pro-
tcftant Caufe-, but with a much better
grounded Confidence, dare we aiTurc our
felves of your Lordihips entire Concurrence,
with the Meafures for a Publick Good ^ and
more efpecially when we juft now have from
the Throne: That, As none can recommend
themselves tn^re effeBuallji to his Majefly^s Fa-
vour and Countenance than by a fincere Zeal
for the Jujl Rights of the Crown^ and the
Liberties of the People •, fo his Majefiy deter*
mined to encourage All thofe who a8 agreeably
to the Conjiitittion ofthefe Kingdoms ^ and con-
fequently to the Principles on which his Ma-
jefyi*s Government is founded.

FINIS.

i